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VHFA News

BURLINGTON, VT  First National Bank of Orwell has become a Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) participating lender. Participating lenders work with borrowers to answer questions about purchasing a home with a VHFA mortgage, determine borrowers’ eligibility, and process applications for low-interest rate VHFA home loans. “We’re pleased to have First National Bank of Orwell join the ranks of VHFA participating lenders,” said VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. “With nearly 40 such lenders across the state, Vermonters now have more choices than ever when it comes to selecting a participating lender they feel most comfortable with helping them through the home-buying process.” First National Bank of Orwell is located at 441 Main Street in Orwell. VHFA’s Web site (www.vhfa.org) features a searchable database of all VHFA participating lenders — including names of mortgage originators at each institution and detailed contact information. VHFA was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped more than 25,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of almost 7,000 affordable rental units.

BURLINGTON—Vermont Housing Finance Agency closed its books on the 2007 Fiscal Year with a record level of home mortgage loan purchases. The Agency purchased more than $134 million worth of home mortgage loans from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. “This means more than 900 Vermonters and their families were able to purchase homes with VHFA mortgage products,” said Sarah Carpenter, VHFA Executive Director. “Our record year is the result of the deep commitment and hard work on the part of everyone at the Agency to helping Vermonters find safe, decent and affordable housing.” VHFA works through a network of 37 participating lenders, including banks, credit unions and mortgage companies, across Vermont. A list of participating lenders and other important consumer information, including interest rates and income and purchase-price guidelines, is available on the Agency website, www.vhfa.org. VHFA’s primary home mortgage product currently offers a 6 percent APR interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan with no points. The Agency also has products tailored to meet various consumers’ needs, including the Cash Assistance Rate Option, which offers help with downpayment and closing costs. Interest rates are subject to change, and other conditions apply. Prospective borrowers should contact their mortgage lenders for more details. Vermont Housing Finance Agency was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to provide affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, VHFA has helped more than 25,000 households with affordable mortgages and financed the creation of nearly 7,000 affordable rental units.

BURLINGTON, VT  Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Office Manager Rebecca Greenough was certified a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). The certification is the result of an intensive course of study in strategic planning, compensation and benefits, HR development, employee rights, and other HR issues, followed by a four-hour exam. “This certification represents a tremendous amount of initiative on Becky’s part,” said VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. “It also confirms what those of us who work with Becky already knew: She’s as committed to serving the VHFA staff as much as she is to advancing her own professional skills.” Greenough joined VHFA in 2002. HRCI is the credentialing affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Both organizations are in Alexandria, Virginia. HRCI promotes establishment of standards for the profession and recognizes HR professionals who, through demonstrated professional experience and the passing of a comprehensive exam, have met HRCI’s requirements for mastering the HR body of knowledge. Since HRCI began certifying in 1976, more than 86,000 HR professionals have earned certifications. As of January 2007, only 109 Vermonters had earned the PHR designation. VHFA was established by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, VHFA has provided low-cost homeownership financing to more than 25,000 Vermont families and financed the construction or rehabilitation of nearly 7,000 affordable apartments.

BURLINGTON—Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced that Lori J. Gilding of South Burlington has joined VHFA as Executive Assistant. Gilding coordinates VHFA Board of Commissioners activities, provides administrative support to executive managers, and assists the Office Manager with Agency functions. Gilding served as Legal Assistant/Marketing Coordinator at Burlington law firm Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew PC beginning in January 2005. Before that, she was an Executive Assistant at Lane Press Inc. in South Burlington. She also was the Bookkeeper/Office Manager of Gilding Electric, a family-owned business she established in South Burlington in 1998. VHFA was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped more than 25,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of almost 7,000 affordable rental units.

BURLINGTON—Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced that Joshua Slade of Colchester has joined VHFA as Multifamily Operations Specialist. Slade provides support to the Agency’s Multifamily Development and Multifamily Asset Management departments, including aspects of originating, underwriting, closing and servicing of multifamily loans and tax credit projects. He is also responsible for the integrity of the departments’ data in a variety of databases, such as the Directory of Affordable Rental Housing (DoARH) at Vermont Housing Data (www.housingdata.org). Slade served a year as an intern Multifamily Operations Specialist at VHFA while he completed his education at Burlington’s Champlain College. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies in May 2004. After graduating, he spent three years as Co-op and Community Organizer at Champlain Housing Trust, formerly Burlington Community Land Trust, in Burlington. VHFA was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped more than 25,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of almost 7,000 affordable rental units.